Android Central - Android 3.x - Honeycombhttp://www.androidcentral.com/honeycomb
We got our first look at Android 3.0 Honeycomb at CES in January 2011. Later that month, Google released the SDK preview, and we really got into the OS. Honeycomb is Google's version of Android that is specifically for large screen devices like tablets and Google TV. It remains it's own special code branch until the platform is unified by adding feature support for smartphones in Ice Cream Sandwich sometime in the fourth quarter of 2011. Honeycomb brings a feature-rich Android experience to tablets, and ushers in a major change in the way Google controls Android. Rather than make the Honeycomb version of Android available to everyone, Google is holding OEMs to stricter hardware and software standards. Some may argue that this goes against the open philosophy we're used to from Google, but it affords them a tighter control and focuses development. Android 3.0 highlights A new "holographic" user interface and interaction model -- what we've seen on the Motorola Xoom. UI framework for creating great apps for larger screen devices. High-performance 2D and 3D graphics. Support for multicore processor architectures. Rich multimedia: New multimedia features such as HTTP Live streaming support, a pluggable DRM framework, and easy media file transfer through MTP/PTP, give developers new ways to bring rich content to users. New types of connectivity: New APIs for Bluetooth A2DP and HSP let applications offer audio streaming and headset control. Support for Bluetooth insecure socket connection lets applications connect to simple devices that may not have a user interface. Enhancements for enterprise: New administrative policies, such as for encrypted storage and password expiration, help enterprise administrators manage devices more effectively. Android 3.1 Honeycomb was announced at Google IO in May, and the Motorola Xoom started receiving updates within a day or so. Android 3.1 highlights Support for the new Android Market movie rentals service with thousands of titles available for immediate viewing on the Motorola XOOM’s high-resolution display or on a larger screen via HDMI Full support for the final release of Adobe® Flash® Player 10.2, delivering significant performance enhancements when viewing rich Flash content on the web Resizable widgets to enable further customization of home screens Support for USB-connected peripherals and accessories, such as keyboards, mice, game controllers and digital cameras Expanded Bluetooth features to support Bluetooth headsets in Google Talk™ video chats and Bluetooth mouse support in addition to additional shortcut keys with the Bluetooth keyboard Picture Transfer Protocol Feature support to enable easier transfer of photo files to your PC without the need for drivers More Honeycomb stories enGoogle Reader updated with tablet usability fixeshttp://www.androidcentral.com/google-reader-updated-tablet-usability-fixes

If you use Google Reader and an Android tablet, chances are you'll want to pick up the latest update for Google's RSS app, which contains some tablet-specific usability fixes. And that's it -- we haven't noticed any other changes in this version, and even on Honeycomb tablets the app seems pretty much the same.

In any case it's good to stay up to date, and the new version 1.1.5 of Google Reader is available to download now from Google Play. Existing users can fire up the Store app and head to "My Apps" to grab the update, or if you're new, we've included a download link below.

If you use Google Reader and an Android tablet, chances are you'll want to pick up the latest update for Google's RSS app, which contains some tablet-specific usability fixes. And that's it -- we haven't noticed any other changes in this version, and even on Honeycomb tablets the app seems pretty much the same.

In any case it's good to stay up to date, and the new version 1.1.5 of Google Reader is available to download now from Google Play. Existing users can fire up the Store app and head to "My Apps" to grab the update, or if you're new, we've included a download link below.

Earlier we mentioned that there was an update to the Sony Google TV rolling out and with that announcement also came the info that an update to the Logitech Revue was on the way as well. At the time, there was not mention of what it may be or when it could be expected but as we now know, it has come fairly quickly and has brought along plenty of bug fixes with it as well. As noted from Logitech:

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Earlier we mentioned that there was an update to the Sony Google TV rolling out and with that announcement also came the info that an update to the Logitech Revue was on the way as well. At the time, there was not mention of what it may be or when it could be expected but as we now know, it has come fairly quickly and has brought along plenty of bug fixes with it as well. As noted from Logitech:

]]>Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:02:57 +0000Bla1ze24384 at http://www.androidcentral.comhttp://www.androidcentral.com/logitech-revue-android-32-update-has-gone-live-bug-fixes-aplenty#commentsVideo of ICS on an Xperia S will whet your whistle until the real thing dropshttp://www.androidcentral.com/video-ics-xperia-s-will-whet-your-whistle-until-real-thing-drops

First the Xperia S was going to get Ice Cream Sandwich in mid-April, then late May or early June, then finally sometime in Q2 (which will probably be June, just not early June). As the days drag on and your appetite for Android 4.0 grows, we're happy to bring you tidbits when we can that can satiate the incredible desire for the latest and greatest.

Our friends over at XperiaBlog happened to get their hands on a leaked video of Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, running on an Xperia S (courtesy of Sony XP). A couple of highlights include Sony's take on the lock screen, a slick music player, and a gorgeous, streamlined gallery.

I've always said seeing is believing, though, so we've got said video after the break.

First the Xperia S was going to get Ice Cream Sandwich in mid-April, then late May or early June, then finally sometime in Q2 (which will probably be June, just not early June). As the days drag on and your appetite for Android 4.0 grows, we're happy to bring you tidbits when we can that can satiate the incredible desire for the latest and greatest.

Our friends over at XperiaBlog happened to get their hands on a leaked video of Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, running on an Xperia S (courtesy of Sony XP). A couple of highlights include Sony's take on the lock screen, a slick music player, and a gorgeous, streamlined gallery.

I've always said seeing is believing, though, so we've got said video after the break.

]]>Mon, 28 May 2012 10:29:57 +0000Joshua Munoz24184 at http://www.androidcentral.comhttp://www.androidcentral.com/video-ics-xperia-s-will-whet-your-whistle-until-real-thing-drops#commentsLatest Android version numbers show gains for ICS and Gingerbreadhttp://www.androidcentral.com/latest-android-version-numbers-shows-gains-ics-and-gingerbread

The latest set of Android version numbers has been released by Google, showing details of the spread between various versions of the OS. As always, the stats were collected from devices accessing the Google Play Store during the last two weeks of the month. Here's a quick breakdown --

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The latest set of Android version numbers has been released by Google, showing details of the spread between various versions of the OS. As always, the stats were collected from devices accessing the Google Play Store during the last two weeks of the month. Here's a quick breakdown --

The ZTE Optik is a nice little surprise from Sprint. It's an unassuming but well-built and well-running 7-inch Honeycomb tablet that runs on Sprint's 3G network, and it is probably one of the better devices nobody has heard much about. With no gimmicks like a digital stylus or a foldable keyboard dock, it's easy to forget about the Optik. Hit the break to see why you shouldn't.

The Optik is really nicely built, the fit and finish on our unit was darn near perfect, and the parts used had a quality feel. It's also very nice to hold, partially because of the rubber grips. The screen is top-notch and better than most other 7-inch devices

It has to be said -- there is no 4G on the Optik. It's also another new device already one major Android version behind, with no clear upgrade path. The battery life wasn't as good as expected.

Easily the best value for the price, the Optik is actually a nice 3G tablet. The screen is very nice, and it's a great consumption device. If you're not expecting any type of 4G service in your area, and in the market for a tablet with a data plan, it's definitely worth a look.

Inside this review

More info

The ZTE Optik is a nice little surprise from Sprint. It's an unassuming but well-built and well-running 7-inch Honeycomb tablet that runs on Sprint's 3G network, and it is probably one of the better devices nobody has heard much about. With no gimmicks like a digital stylus or a foldable keyboard dock, it's easy to forget about the Optik. Hit the break to see why you shouldn't.

The Optik is really nicely built, the fit and finish on our unit was darn near perfect, and the parts used had a quality feel. It's also very nice to hold, partially because of the rubber grips. The screen is top-notch and better than most other 7-inch devices

It has to be said -- there is no 4G on the Optik. It's also another new device already one major Android version behind, with no clear upgrade path. The battery life wasn't as good as expected.

Easily the best value for the price, the Optik is actually a nice 3G tablet. The screen is very nice, and it's a great consumption device. If you're not expecting any type of 4G service in your area, and in the market for a tablet with a data plan, it's definitely worth a look.

The folks at Teamviewer have pushed out quite the update for their TeamViewer for Meetings app, bringing some minor bug fixes, full hardware acceleration for Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich tablets, and VoIP support. VoIP support on top of the already excellent Teleconferencing application really opens up things on a Wifi-only Android tablet, and better hardware acceleration support for those same tablets means a better -- and more productive -- user experience.

TeamViewer's apps and servers (they make an awesome Remote Desktop-style product as well) are 100 percent free for normal, non-commercial users. The Windows server has the ability to host meetings used with the mobile application, but as of yet the Mac and Linux versions do not, offering only the remote control abilities. We've got a mess of links below, and TeamViewer's press release after the break.

The folks at Teamviewer have pushed out quite the update for their TeamViewer for Meetings app, bringing some minor bug fixes, full hardware acceleration for Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich tablets, and VoIP support. VoIP support on top of the already excellent Teleconferencing application really opens up things on a Wifi-only Android tablet, and better hardware acceleration support for those same tablets means a better -- and more productive -- user experience.

TeamViewer's apps and servers (they make an awesome Remote Desktop-style product as well) are 100 percent free for normal, non-commercial users. The Windows server has the ability to host meetings used with the mobile application, but as of yet the Mac and Linux versions do not, offering only the remote control abilities. We've got a mess of links below, and TeamViewer's press release after the break.

Sprint is pushing out a small update for the 7-inch ZTE Optik today, bringing a few welcome bug fixes to the tablet and some decent software enhancements. According to the official changelog, we should be seeing the following:

As the Optik ships with Honeycomb, Google Music and Plus weren't baked in. This update changes that and drops the Google services, along with unwanted, but necessary, DRM solutions into the system itself. Add in some small fixes for Bluetooth notifications, app specific bugs getting addressed, and hopefully a fix for the issue where a computer couldn't communicate via the USB cable and you have the makings of a nice little update here.

I just finished up the review for the Optik this weekend, but I'll hold it back a few days and check out this new update.

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Sprint is pushing out a small update for the 7-inch ZTE Optik today, bringing a few welcome bug fixes to the tablet and some decent software enhancements. According to the official changelog, we should be seeing the following:

As the Optik ships with Honeycomb, Google Music and Plus weren't baked in. This update changes that and drops the Google services, along with unwanted, but necessary, DRM solutions into the system itself. Add in some small fixes for Bluetooth notifications, app specific bugs getting addressed, and hopefully a fix for the issue where a computer couldn't communicate via the USB cable and you have the makings of a nice little update here.

I just finished up the review for the Optik this weekend, but I'll hold it back a few days and check out this new update.

The Motorola Xoom 2 has been with us in the UK for a few months now, albeit only in WiFi only flavor. Today though, Motorola has made available the 3G + WiFi variants of both the Xoom 2 and the smaller Xoom 2 Media Edition.

Available online and in-store from the Carphone Warehouse from today, there has also been a small price cut on the WiFi only versions at that retailer. Prices now start from £299.99 for the Media Edition WiFi only. The 3G versions are priced at £399.99 for the Media Edition, and £449.99 for the 10.1-inch Xoom 2.

The Xoom 2 is still shipping with Android 3.2, which in this day and age could put some potential buyers off, especially when you consider the astronomical price tag. Nevertheless it's still a pretty solid tablet. If 3G is all you've been waiting on, then wait no longer.

The Motorola Xoom 2 has been with us in the UK for a few months now, albeit only in WiFi only flavor. Today though, Motorola has made available the 3G + WiFi variants of both the Xoom 2 and the smaller Xoom 2 Media Edition.

Available online and in-store from the Carphone Warehouse from today, there has also been a small price cut on the WiFi only versions at that retailer. Prices now start from £299.99 for the Media Edition WiFi only. The 3G versions are priced at £399.99 for the Media Edition, and £449.99 for the 10.1-inch Xoom 2.

The Xoom 2 is still shipping with Android 3.2, which in this day and age could put some potential buyers off, especially when you consider the astronomical price tag. Nevertheless it's still a pretty solid tablet. If 3G is all you've been waiting on, then wait no longer.

Google has updated the official Gmail app for Android today, with assorted changes for Android phones and tablets running Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb. The most significant changes are for Android 3.2 tablets -- Honeycomb now gets access to a few handy features which until now have been reserved for ICS. These include swiping between messages, and a shortcut in the top left corner for selecting recent labels. Honeycombers also the ability to customize the way Gmail notifies you about mail with different labels.

Google hasn't forgotten that the majority of Android phones are still on Gingerbread or Froyo, however, and for them, this update will deliver performance improvements and a new labels API for third-party app developers.

Hit that Google Play Store link and head to "My Apps" to grab your update.

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Google has updated the official Gmail app for Android today, with assorted changes for Android phones and tablets running Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb. The most significant changes are for Android 3.2 tablets -- Honeycomb now gets access to a few handy features which until now have been reserved for ICS. These include swiping between messages, and a shortcut in the top left corner for selecting recent labels. Honeycombers also the ability to customize the way Gmail notifies you about mail with different labels.

Google hasn't forgotten that the majority of Android phones are still on Gingerbread or Froyo, however, and for them, this update will deliver performance improvements and a new labels API for third-party app developers.

Hit that Google Play Store link and head to "My Apps" to grab your update.

Google has just released an updated set of Android platform statistics for the two-week period ending April 2, 2012. These numbers show the proportion of various version of Android to have accessed the Google Play Store over the past fortnight, meaning these are devices that are being used by real people.

Here's how things looked for Android in late March and early April 2012 --

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Google has just released an updated set of Android platform statistics for the two-week period ending April 2, 2012. These numbers show the proportion of various version of Android to have accessed the Google Play Store over the past fortnight, meaning these are devices that are being used by real people.

Here's how things looked for Android in late March and early April 2012 --

Sony has shown off a new Television set-top box at the Bravia event in Singapore, and it runs Android -- Google TV version two specifically. Beyond that, we don't know much more about the unit, but that won't stop us from looking at the pictures for clues about features.

We see some really interesting things on the remote. The first is that it appears to be a track pad, probably the same one that was demonstrated at CES. If so, that's twice we've seen it from Sony, and we imagine it will become the standard. We're loving that idea. We also can see record and DVR buttons, which may mean internal storage on the unit itself for video recording. Then there's the 3D button, that may mean 3D is on-board the box itself. Flip the remote over and you have a 61-button keypad that looks pretty functional (and busy).

What we can't guess about is an availability date or a price. All the features in the world won't help it if consumers buy the $100 solutions from Boxee or Roku. As soon as Sony says something official, we may have those answers. We're ready for a successor to the Logitech Revue, and this one has our interest piqued. Hit the break for two more pictures

Sony has shown off a new Television set-top box at the Bravia event in Singapore, and it runs Android -- Google TV version two specifically. Beyond that, we don't know much more about the unit, but that won't stop us from looking at the pictures for clues about features.

We see some really interesting things on the remote. The first is that it appears to be a track pad, probably the same one that was demonstrated at CES. If so, that's twice we've seen it from Sony, and we imagine it will become the standard. We're loving that idea. We also can see record and DVR buttons, which may mean internal storage on the unit itself for video recording. Then there's the 3D button, that may mean 3D is on-board the box itself. Flip the remote over and you have a 61-button keypad that looks pretty functional (and busy).

What we can't guess about is an availability date or a price. All the features in the world won't help it if consumers buy the $100 solutions from Boxee or Roku. As soon as Sony says something official, we may have those answers. We're ready for a successor to the Logitech Revue, and this one has our interest piqued. Hit the break for two more pictures

There's no doubt that today is iPad day, but if you're looking for an Android tablet, you could do worse than Sony's Tablet S, with its quirky "folded magazine" design. Today UK retailers Currys, PC World and Dixons -- all part of the Dixons Stores Group -- have cut the Tablet S's price by £100, knocking it down to £299. The new price puts it in line with competing 2011 tablets like the Motorola Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1. In addition, Currys promises a £10 voucher to anyone buying the Tablet S online.

The Tablet S, which launched late last year, was Sony's first foray into the world of Android tablets. It's powered by the standard NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU, with 1GB of RAM and a lightly-skinned Android 3.2 Honeycomb on the software side, with an update to Ice Cream Sandwich promised in the near future. Sony's software suite includes all the proprietary stuff you'd expect -- Music and Video Unlimited, along with PlayStation certification for gamers. The main thing setting it apart from other tablets, though, is that wedge-shaped chassis, which is designed to make it easier to hold in one hand.

Elsewhere on the web, Sony Tablet S prices still hover around £350-375 (~$550-590). Given that today's iPad 3 new iPad launch pushes the iPad 2 down to £320 in most stores, we'd expect to see last year's Android tablets priced further below this mark in the months ahead.

There's no doubt that today is iPad day, but if you're looking for an Android tablet, you could do worse than Sony's Tablet S, with its quirky "folded magazine" design. Today UK retailers Currys, PC World and Dixons -- all part of the Dixons Stores Group -- have cut the Tablet S's price by £100, knocking it down to £299. The new price puts it in line with competing 2011 tablets like the Motorola Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1. In addition, Currys promises a £10 voucher to anyone buying the Tablet S online.

The Tablet S, which launched late last year, was Sony's first foray into the world of Android tablets. It's powered by the standard NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU, with 1GB of RAM and a lightly-skinned Android 3.2 Honeycomb on the software side, with an update to Ice Cream Sandwich promised in the near future. Sony's software suite includes all the proprietary stuff you'd expect -- Music and Video Unlimited, along with PlayStation certification for gamers. The main thing setting it apart from other tablets, though, is that wedge-shaped chassis, which is designed to make it easier to hold in one hand.

Elsewhere on the web, Sony Tablet S prices still hover around £350-375 (~$550-590). Given that today's iPad 3 new iPad launch pushes the iPad 2 down to £320 in most stores, we'd expect to see last year's Android tablets priced further below this mark in the months ahead.

]]>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:44:27 +0000Alex Dobie22636 at http://www.androidcentral.comhttp://www.androidcentral.com/uk-retailer-cuts-sony-tablet-s-price#commentsT-Mobile G-Slate getting an update to v10p, which is not ICShttp://www.androidcentral.com/t-mobile-g-slate-getting-update-not-ics

The T-Mobile G-Slate is in the midst of getting an OTA update to version 10p, which will bring security fixes, USB controller support, and a fix for an Android Market (Google Play?) update problem. It's not Ice Cream Sandwich, and at first glance it looks like it will be based off Android 3.2. All we're sure about at this moment is that it's version 10p.

Worth noting that you'll need to clear data on the Download Manager app to install the update, which the notice screen reminds you to do before installation. Be sure to back up any files you may have sitting in the Download Manager, just in case they too are deleted. You'll also have to have your G-Slate charged up before you can continue.

If you're one of the few who picked up the G-Slate, now would be a good time to check for updates.

The T-Mobile G-Slate is in the midst of getting an OTA update to version 10p, which will bring security fixes, USB controller support, and a fix for an Android Market (Google Play?) update problem. It's not Ice Cream Sandwich, and at first glance it looks like it will be based off Android 3.2. All we're sure about at this moment is that it's version 10p.

Worth noting that you'll need to clear data on the Download Manager app to install the update, which the notice screen reminds you to do before installation. Be sure to back up any files you may have sitting in the Download Manager, just in case they too are deleted. You'll also have to have your G-Slate charged up before you can continue.

If you're one of the few who picked up the G-Slate, now would be a good time to check for updates.

The Honeycomb update for the Vizio VTAB1008 looks like it's rolling out a bit broader, bringing the VTab to version V.I.A. Plus 2.0 and Android version 3.2.1. We first heard it was slowly pushing out earlier this afternoon, and have been checking our own VTab here every hour or so, but by now we've heard it enough times to know it's not a fluke. Reports say that you will lose the capacitive buttons around the bezel in favor of on-screen soft buttons, but to balance that out custom launchers like ADW (seen above) now work and you can make your VTab feel more like stock Android.

It's too early to know any serious bugs, or what sort of impact this will have on battery life, but anytime a "legacy" tablet sees an update to Honeycomb we're happy. If you're using a VTab, be sure to check for updates (menu>settings>about device>Vizio update service) before you hit the pillow. There's a couple other pics after the break.

Thanks everyone who sent this in, and thanks Dale for the pics!

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The Honeycomb update for the Vizio VTAB1008 looks like it's rolling out a bit broader, bringing the VTab to version V.I.A. Plus 2.0 and Android version 3.2.1. We first heard it was slowly pushing out earlier this afternoon, and have been checking our own VTab here every hour or so, but by now we've heard it enough times to know it's not a fluke. Reports say that you will lose the capacitive buttons around the bezel in favor of on-screen soft buttons, but to balance that out custom launchers like ADW (seen above) now work and you can make your VTab feel more like stock Android.

It's too early to know any serious bugs, or what sort of impact this will have on battery life, but anytime a "legacy" tablet sees an update to Honeycomb we're happy. If you're using a VTab, be sure to check for updates (menu>settings>about device>Vizio update service) before you hit the pillow. There's a couple other pics after the break.

The stock Ice Cream Sandwich camera application is pretty nice. Clean and simple interface, really easy to use, and of course that built in panorama mode is awesome. A developer by the name of Moblynx has taken the stock app, and tweaked it ever so slightly to add some nice extra features. Up until now the app has only been available for Honeycomb and ICS devices. Today it received an update, that now lets anyone on Froyo and Gingerbread join in.

There is a free version -- but seriously who wants ads in their camera app? The paid version currently sets you back £0.79/$0.99. For that you get the stock ICS camera application with some added bonuses. You get some built in photo effects like mono and sepia, silent mode, a picture quality setting that goes all the way up to ultra, a silent mode and of course the panorama feature to name but a few.

Running the app on an ICS device also gets you additional video stabilization features and 720p face effects.

Besides opening up to 2.2 and 2.3 devices, todays update also includes Intel x86 support, configurable volume buttons and a host of bugfixes. Download links to the paid version can be found after the break.

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The stock Ice Cream Sandwich camera application is pretty nice. Clean and simple interface, really easy to use, and of course that built in panorama mode is awesome. A developer by the name of Moblynx has taken the stock app, and tweaked it ever so slightly to add some nice extra features. Up until now the app has only been available for Honeycomb and ICS devices. Today it received an update, that now lets anyone on Froyo and Gingerbread join in.

There is a free version -- but seriously who wants ads in their camera app? The paid version currently sets you back £0.79/$0.99. For that you get the stock ICS camera application with some added bonuses. You get some built in photo effects like mono and sepia, silent mode, a picture quality setting that goes all the way up to ultra, a silent mode and of course the panorama feature to name but a few.

Running the app on an ICS device also gets you additional video stabilization features and 720p face effects.

Besides opening up to 2.2 and 2.3 devices, todays update also includes Intel x86 support, configurable volume buttons and a host of bugfixes. Download links to the paid version can be found after the break.

The world outside Barcelona goes on as normal it seems, and Archos have today launched their latest tablet, the 70b. The name won't impress you, but the price of this latest Honeycomb effort might. The 7-inch 70b is on sale at just $199.99.

While being aimed towards the lower end of the tablet market, it stills looks fairly capable. As with all the Gen 9 Archos Tablets, the full Google app suite is on board. A 7-inch 1024x600 screen sits atop a 1.2 GHz ARM processor. Onboard storage is only 8GB but a MicroSD card slot is present allowing for another 32GB should you desire. You also get a front facing camera, and as ever Archos devices are capable of decoding pretty much most video formats out there.

The 70b isn't likely to set the world on fire, but offers a full tablet experience at the same price point as the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet 8GB. Archos tablets have always been very media-centric, and maybe the best part -- the kickstand. Always a winner should you like to enjoy movies from your tablet.

The world outside Barcelona goes on as normal it seems, and Archos have today launched their latest tablet, the 70b. The name won't impress you, but the price of this latest Honeycomb effort might. The 7-inch 70b is on sale at just $199.99.

While being aimed towards the lower end of the tablet market, it stills looks fairly capable. As with all the Gen 9 Archos Tablets, the full Google app suite is on board. A 7-inch 1024x600 screen sits atop a 1.2 GHz ARM processor. Onboard storage is only 8GB but a MicroSD card slot is present allowing for another 32GB should you desire. You also get a front facing camera, and as ever Archos devices are capable of decoding pretty much most video formats out there.

The 70b isn't likely to set the world on fire, but offers a full tablet experience at the same price point as the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet 8GB. Archos tablets have always been very media-centric, and maybe the best part -- the kickstand. Always a winner should you like to enjoy movies from your tablet.

Nearly six months after being unveiled, the Sony Tablet P is finally getting a stateside release. The "4G"+ WiFi dual-screen tablet will hit AT&T shelves on March 4 for $399.99 on contract, and will surf on the carrier's HSPA+ network. Should you choose to commit to a contract, you'll have two plans to choose from: 3GB per month for $35, and 5GB for $50. Without a contract, you'll have the option to purchase 250MB data for $15, along with the 3GB and 5GB options as well.

It's been a while since we first met the tablet, so to refresh your memory, the Sony Tablet P comes equipped with two 5.5 inch screens each at 1024 x 480 resolution. Folded, the tablet will easily fit into your pocket; unfolded, the dual screens can act as one viewing area, or split into two different functionalities, such as a keyboard on the bottom and a typing area on top. Sony will offer dual-screen optimized apps through its "Select App", though any app will work just fine, albeit not optimized.

Other specs include a 1 Ghz Tegra 2 processor, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, and support for microSD cards of up to 32 GB. It's got two camera, a 5 MP rear-shooter and a 0.3 MP front facer. It'll run Honeycomb 3.2 out of the box, though Sony says that there are plans for Ice Cream Sandwich sometime down the road.

Certainly a niche device, the Sony Tablet P sounds interesting if nothing else. You can rest assured that we'll share our impressions as soon as we get our hands on one; until then, check out AT&T's presser after the break.

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Nearly six months after being unveiled, the Sony Tablet P is finally getting a stateside release. The "4G"+ WiFi dual-screen tablet will hit AT&T shelves on March 4 for $399.99 on contract, and will surf on the carrier's HSPA+ network. Should you choose to commit to a contract, you'll have two plans to choose from: 3GB per month for $35, and 5GB for $50. Without a contract, you'll have the option to purchase 250MB data for $15, along with the 3GB and 5GB options as well.

It's been a while since we first met the tablet, so to refresh your memory, the Sony Tablet P comes equipped with two 5.5 inch screens each at 1024 x 480 resolution. Folded, the tablet will easily fit into your pocket; unfolded, the dual screens can act as one viewing area, or split into two different functionalities, such as a keyboard on the bottom and a typing area on top. Sony will offer dual-screen optimized apps through its "Select App", though any app will work just fine, albeit not optimized.

Other specs include a 1 Ghz Tegra 2 processor, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, and support for microSD cards of up to 32 GB. It's got two camera, a 5 MP rear-shooter and a 0.3 MP front facer. It'll run Honeycomb 3.2 out of the box, though Sony says that there are plans for Ice Cream Sandwich sometime down the road.

Certainly a niche device, the Sony Tablet P sounds interesting if nothing else. You can rest assured that we'll share our impressions as soon as we get our hands on one; until then, check out AT&T's presser after the break.

With Verizon and Samsung having already announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, all that remained left to be said was a release date and pricing. Wonder no more though, as Verizon has just announced availablity for 4G LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 come Mar. 1st. Need a specs reminder?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be packing a Super AMOLED Plus display with 1280x800 resolution, a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor along with a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera featuring LED flash and capable of 720p playback (1080p playback through HDMI dock or adapter). A 2-megapixel front facing camera for video chat, 16GB of storage and of course as mentioned -- Verizon's 4G LTE for connectivity all powered by Android 3.2 Honeycomb.

If you're looking to pick one up, you'll be handing over $499 to Verizon on a two-year contract and don't forget to add in the required $30/mnth data package that allows for 2GB of data. The full press release can be found past the break for you all.

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With Verizon and Samsung having already announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, all that remained left to be said was a release date and pricing. Wonder no more though, as Verizon has just announced availablity for 4G LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 come Mar. 1st. Need a specs reminder?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be packing a Super AMOLED Plus display with 1280x800 resolution, a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor along with a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera featuring LED flash and capable of 720p playback (1080p playback through HDMI dock or adapter). A 2-megapixel front facing camera for video chat, 16GB of storage and of course as mentioned -- Verizon's 4G LTE for connectivity all powered by Android 3.2 Honeycomb.

If you're looking to pick one up, you'll be handing over $499 to Verizon on a two-year contract and don't forget to add in the required $30/mnth data package that allows for 2GB of data. The full press release can be found past the break for you all.

While we were at CES 2012 we got a look at the Toshiba Excite X10, the 10-inch tablet dubbed the thinnest ever. Since then, we've not heard a whole lot about the release of the device but it has no popped up on the Future Shop website for pre-order.

The Toshiba Excite X10 will come in 2 different variations, being a 16GB and 32GB version. The Excite X10 packs a dual-core 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 processor, 1 GB of RAM and has a 1280 x 800 IPS touch display but you can check out the full specs here. Pre-order pricing is set at $550 for the 16GB with the 32GB costing only $50 more to bring to $600.

While we were at CES 2012 we got a look at the Toshiba Excite X10, the 10-inch tablet dubbed the thinnest ever. Since then, we've not heard a whole lot about the release of the device but it has no popped up on the Future Shop website for pre-order.

The Toshiba Excite X10 will come in 2 different variations, being a 16GB and 32GB version. The Excite X10 packs a dual-core 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 processor, 1 GB of RAM and has a 1280 x 800 IPS touch display but you can check out the full specs here. Pre-order pricing is set at $550 for the 16GB with the 32GB costing only $50 more to bring to $600.

While it may not be the most popular application among the Android faithful, Google Books is still a pretty solid e-reading app. A small update has sneaked out into the Market today, although at present it doesn't seem to be showing up in your my apps -- kind of like how YouTube went un-noticed.

The version numbers vary across devices, but has been bumped on the Gingerbread and below version, and the Honeycomb and above versions. What's confusing is to exactly what this update is for.

The changelog on the Honeycomb upwards version -- and indeed the web market -- touts accessibility support/TTS, ability to remove a downloaded book from your device (pretty sure we already could?) and improved stability.

Over in the Gingerbread and below camp, the changelog reads very differently. Here we get fixes for download error messages. In both cases the version numbers are bumped only very slightly, so we'll go out on a limb and say its a bug fix update. Either way, you'll find download links after the break.

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While it may not be the most popular application among the Android faithful, Google Books is still a pretty solid e-reading app. A small update has sneaked out into the Market today, although at present it doesn't seem to be showing up in your my apps -- kind of like how YouTube went un-noticed.

The version numbers vary across devices, but has been bumped on the Gingerbread and below version, and the Honeycomb and above versions. What's confusing is to exactly what this update is for.

The changelog on the Honeycomb upwards version -- and indeed the web market -- touts accessibility support/TTS, ability to remove a downloaded book from your device (pretty sure we already could?) and improved stability.

Over in the Gingerbread and below camp, the changelog reads very differently. Here we get fixes for download error messages. In both cases the version numbers are bumped only very slightly, so we'll go out on a limb and say its a bug fix update. Either way, you'll find download links after the break.